16.09.2015 Views

Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000.pdf

Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000.pdf

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS
  • No tags were found...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

<strong>Status</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Coral</strong> <strong>Reefs</strong> <strong>of</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Central America<br />

Honduras<br />

Groups involved with monitoring include Cayos Cochinos Marine Reserve, Bay Island<br />

Conservation Association, Biodiversity <strong>of</strong> Protected Areas Project (PROBAP), Wildlife<br />

Conservation Society, WWF, AGRRA, CARICOMP, Inter Development Bank (BID), REEF, USGS,<br />

and NOAA.<br />

Nicaragua<br />

Groups involved with monitoring/research include Mikupia, Miskito Reef Mapping Project,<br />

USAID, CARICOMP, and MARENA.<br />

GOVERNMENT POLICIES, LAWS AND LEGISLATION<br />

Mexico has signed all major international agreements dealing with coastal and marine<br />

biodiversity, while <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r countries are party to a number <strong>of</strong> international agreements.<br />

The most significant regional plan for increasing government capacity to protect coral reefs<br />

is <strong>the</strong> Declaration <strong>of</strong> Tulum. The Cartagena Convention is also important to protect and<br />

conserve fragile ecosystems, as countries agreed to prevent, reduce and control pollution<br />

from ships, dumping, sea-bed activities, airborne, and land-based sources and activities<br />

within <strong>the</strong> Wider Caribbean. National government capacity varies with each country, yet<br />

<strong>the</strong>re is an overall lack <strong>of</strong> infrastructure and weak institutional framework that has lead to<br />

poor implementation <strong>of</strong> international agreements and a lack <strong>of</strong> enforcement <strong>of</strong> national<br />

environmental regulations.<br />

Mexico<br />

There is extensive legislation and a solid institutional capacity to manage natural resources.<br />

The Secretariat <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries (Secretaria del Medio<br />

Ambiente, Recursos Naturales y Pesca - SEMARNAP) is <strong>the</strong> Federal Government agency<br />

responsible for managing natural resources and fisheries. SEMARNAP oversees <strong>the</strong><br />

following administrative units that have jurisdiction over <strong>the</strong> management <strong>of</strong> coastal and<br />

marine ecosystems:<br />

• Federal Attorney for Protection <strong>of</strong> Environment (PROFEPA) - Enforcement <strong>of</strong><br />

environmental law;<br />

• National Institute <strong>of</strong> Ecology (INE)- Protected areas, wildlife management,<br />

pollution control, environmental zoning and environmental impact assessment;<br />

• National Institute <strong>of</strong> Fisheries (INP)- Fisheries research;<br />

• National Water Commission (CNA)- Water management;<br />

• Undersecretariat <strong>of</strong> Fisheries- Fisheries management, aquaculture and fisheries<br />

infrastructure; and<br />

• Undersecretariat <strong>of</strong> Natural Resources- Federal marine-coastal zone, soil<br />

conservation, forestry.<br />

O<strong>the</strong>r Federal agencies with jurisdiction over coastal and marine ecosystem management<br />

include: <strong>the</strong> Navy Secretariat; <strong>the</strong> Transportation and Communications Secretariat; <strong>the</strong><br />

Tourism Secretariat; <strong>the</strong> Governance Secretariat and <strong>the</strong> Health Secretariat. The Governance<br />

Secretariat administers federal islands and cays, including <strong>the</strong> management <strong>of</strong> island<br />

307

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!